Houston man suffered through alleged bullying until he was run over

By Carol Christian |
March 6, 2014

A southeast Houston man who allegedly thought an electrician owed him money for referring a customer is accused of beating up the electrician multiple times and striking him with a vehicle.

Johnny Butler, 49, was arrested March 5 on a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and remained Thursday in the Harris County Jail on $50,000 bond.

According to Butler's arrest warrant, he introduced an acquaintance to a customer who needed electrical work in October 2012 and demanded a finder's fee.

The acquaintance told Butler he didn't owe him money but gave him $50 to prevent violence, the warrant states. Nonetheless, Butler punched the man in the face, knocking him out, police said.

The acquaintance told investigators that Butler continued to threaten him and demand more money and on Feb. 1 hit him several times in the chest with a closed fist, records state.

On Feb. 23, the acquaintance was sitting in his car at a convenience store in the 5000 block of Doolittle in southeast Houston when Butler approached him again asking for money, the arrest warrant states.

Butler reached into the man's car, grabbing the keys from the ignition and $60 from the console, police said. The other man decided to walk home to avoid trouble and was walking on the sidewalk when Butler struck him with an SUV, injuring his leg and abdomen, the warrant states.

Butler drove off and another person called 911. The man was taken to a hospital and will need additional surgery on his leg, records state.

A witness told police he had no doubt that the SUV driver intentionally struck the pedestrian.

Butler was scheduled to appear Thursday in the 177th State District Court.